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No. 770,713. PATEN'I'ED SEPT. 20, 1904.

E. I. DODDS. TANK UAR FRAME AND METHOD OF MAKING THE FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED JAILZB, 1904.

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UNITED STATES Patented September 20, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ETHAN I. DODDS, OF AVALON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PRESSED STEEL OAR COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF NEIV JERSEY.

TANK-CAR FRAME AND METHOD OF MAKING THE. FRAME;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,713, dated September 20, 1904:.

Application filed January 25, 1904.

T on whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ETHAN I. DoDDs, of Avalon, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Tank-Car Frame and Method of Making the Frame, of which the followingis afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which" Figure 1 shows in vertical cross-section the frame of a tank-car constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the body bolster of the car. Fig. 2 is a similar section on a different plane, showing one of the flying I 5 transoms. Fig. 3 shows the manner in which a flanged beam, either a channel-beam or an I-beam, is cut for the purpose of forming the parts of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 'Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line IV IV of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line V V of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 shows a modification.

My invention enables me to make bodybolsters and transoms of tank-cars and the 2 5 tank-supports thereof from steel beams without any waste or with the least possible waste of material. I thus produce a car-frame at minimum cost, and as I preserve the original flanges on the sections of which it is formed 3 it is of maximum strength.

In the manufacture of the parts of the car I take aflanged beam, (shown in Fig. 3,) which may be either a channel-beam or an I-beam, but is of the length desired for the width of 3 5 the car, and divide it by a cut I) 6, extending longitudinally through the web and at an inclination from the middle toward the ends, the out being preferably in a continuous curve, ,as shown in Fig. 3. This produces 4 two sections 2 3, the section 2 having a cut edge of concave curvature and the section 3 having a cut edge of convex curvature. The cut is produced by a press which divides it simultaneously from end to end. The section 3 is then cut at the middle portion on a curved line 0 0, the curvature of which is preferably adaptedto fit the tank 4: of the car and to provide a recess therefor. A number of such Serial No.190,421. (No model.)

sections 3 are then adapted to be applied to the car-frame directly above the bolsters and transoms as a tank-cradle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the middle curved portion being reinforced, if desired, by angle-pieces 5 5. If the contour of the cut 0 0 does not fit exactly the contour of the tank which is resting thereon, an exact contour may be secured by proper placing of the reinforcing-angles 5 5. The other section, 2, is divided at the middle by a transverse cut d d, thus constituting two sections 2 2, which are applied in the building up of aflying transom, as at 2 in Fig. 2, or to the building up of a body-bolster, as at 2 in Fig. 1. The upper margins of the parts thus constituted have the original flanges of the beam, and the lower margins, if desired, may be reinforced by angles 6, as shown in Fig. 1.

When the parts are assembled as above described, they form a combined tank-cradle and bolster or transom of novel construction. The tank-cradle is directly above the transom or bolster and constitutes a tension member therefor. I desire to cover such construction whether the parts be formed according to the method above described or whether they be formed of plates and reinforcing-angles assembled by riveting.

Those skilled in the art will be able to modify my invention to suit the particular pattern of car to which the parts are to be applied, since What I claim is 1. The method of making a tank-support andbolster or transom members from a single beam-section, which consists in dividing a flanged beam longitudinally through its web by a cut extending in a bias direction relatively to the flanges from the middle of the beam-section toward the end, dividing transversely one of the parts thus formed and ciitting a tank-supporting recess in the other part; substantially as described.

2. The method of making a tank-support and bolster or transom members from a single beam-section, which consists in dividing a flanged beam longitudinally through its web by a cut extending in a bias direction relatively to the flanges from the middle of the beam-section toward the end, dividing transversely one of the parts thus formed and cutting a tank-supporting recess in the other part, said bias out being formed in a curve extending from end to end of the beam-section; substantially as described.

3. A combined tank-cradle and bolster or transom, comprising a cradle supporting member, extending substantially to the sides of the car set over the bolster or transom and constituting a tension member therefor; substantially as described.

4. A combined tank-cradle and car bolster or transom, Which consists of a cradle-section having an'integral flange along one edge, and a bolster or transom likewise having an integral flange along one edge, said flanges being placed adjacent to one another, the cradle-section being set over the bolster or transom section and forming a tension member therefor; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ETHAN I. DODDS.

Witnesses:

L. A. CoNNER, Jr., H. M. CORWIN. 

